Growing In Communion With GodIhe Atụ

Throughout my childhood, I never took a thought of my own provision or of finding my daily food. My only concern, my only job, was to be the best pretend cowboy I could be; to learn how to ride my stick horse with great authority; and to learn how to holster my toy pistol and move it out as quickly as possible. It was my job to take my small, green toy army men and line them up in perfect rows, battle after battle, with firecrackers firmly attached to their legs, ready to be lit at a moment’s notice. 

That was my job. It was the job of my father to put food on our family’s table. I took no thought whether there would be supper. When Mother called me to the table, I went. I had given the authority, the responsibility, for feeding me to my father. I never thought about it and that allowed me to be the best cowboy hero I could be.

The principle Jesus speaks to us as He says, “Our Father in heaven, give us today our daily bread,” is a principle we must believe and live out. If I, as a child, would have doubted my father’s ability to provide for me, it would have offended Him. If we doubt God’s ability to provide for us, we offend Him. So, we trust Him to supply every need.

This is not a lifestyle of laziness on our part. It is not that we don’t care. It is not a lifestyle that says, “I won’t do my part.” It is a lifestyle that says, “God, I trust you to do your part. I trust that you will provide." In this manner I honestly pray, “Give us today our daily bread.”

As we say those words, we are learning to trust Him. We are learning dependence and submission. We are learning to trust His perfect will for us. The provision of God is bound together with the kingdom of God. As we learn to trust God for our provision, we learn that He supplies our needs when we use our resources in the work of His kingdom.